Mere seconds after the final buzzer sounded at the Zayar Thiri Indoor Stadium in Nay Pyi Taw on Thursday (12 December), tears started flowing uncontrollably among Singapore's plucky basketball boys. They had just achieved a significant milestone - a convincing 62-48 triumph for their first SEA Games victory over close rivals Indonesia.

Mental Fortitude

Amidst the ecstatic, tear-streaked faces and hugging bodies, team manager Koh Koon Teck was a picture of tranquillity. "I always knew the boys had it in them," he said. "The biggest difference at this Games has been their ability to learn from their mistakes and improve. Their heads might have dropped after two straight losses, but their hearts never wavered."

Bouncing Back

Few would have backed Singapore to break their basketball medal drought -stretching back to a Bronze at the 1979 Games - after their two opening defeats to Thailand (59-69) and the Philippines (75-88). But they fought back to claim a narrow 71-67 victory over Malaysia on Tuesday (10 December). It was their first win against their Causeway rivals at the Games since 1979.